Princeton man faces meth charges

On October 5, agents of the East Central Drug and Violent Offender Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of one quarter ounce of methamphetamine in the city of Sturgeon Lake from a party indentified as Daniel James Franklin of Princeton, born in 1983. On October 23, agents learned that Franklin was observed in the city of Hinckley and the decision was made to take him into custody for the pervious drug transaction.

Pine County deputies conducted a traffic stop of Franklin’s vehicle in the city of Hinckley. Franklin refused to comply and submit to arrest, then began fighting with deputies and Task Force agents. Franklin was taken into custody without injury after a short struggle. A search of his pockets revealed 25 grams of meth and a glass pipe used to smoke the drug.

Franklin was transported to the Pine County jail where he was booked and subsequently charged with two counts of first degree sale and possession of meth and two counts of second degree sale and possession of meth.

The East Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force is a joint effort between the sheriff's offices of Pine, Chisago and Isanti counties and was created in late 2011.

Vehicle crashes into KFC

On Friday, October 26, at approximately 1:10 p.m., the Pine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single car accident in the city of Pine City.

This Dodge Caravan crashed into the Pine City Kentucky Fried Chicken building Friday, October 26.

A Dodge Caravan was attempting to park at the Pine City Kentucky Fried Chicken when the vehicle jumped the curb and drove through the wall of the building. Very minor injuries were reported.

Rollover crash claims life

On October 29, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Pine County deputies responded to the scene of a one car rollover accident at the location of the 35000 block of Duxbury Road.

It appeared the vehicle was westbound on Duxbury Road when it drifted across the oncoming lane and off the roadway into the ditch, striking a driveway embankment, causing the vehicle to roll over several times, ejecting the driver who was the lone occupant. The driver died at the scene.

The driver was identified as Judith Tauer, age 72, from Sandstone. Next of kin have been notified. The accident is under investigation at this time by the Minnesota State Patrol.